First Ultra Course, Session 1: Why ultras are different
A marathon ends where an ultra just gets started. This session is where you learn what that shift actually demands of you, physically and mentally, before you're finding out mid-race.
Mental negotiation
The point past marathon distance where the initial buzz fades and your mind starts negotiating with you. We'll cover what's actually happening there and the strategies to work through it
Recent research (2026) backs this up: it's not raw mental toughness that predicts how runners cope on the day, it's the quality of their in-race coping strategies, checkpoint by checkpoint. That's trainable, and it's what we focus on
Terrain
Why pace and effort stop meaning what they mean on a road marathon once the ground gets technical and the hours accumulate, and how to recalibrate your expectations accordingly
Pacing and walking
Why walking sections are a deliberate, effective racing strategy rather than a compromise, and how to build that decision into your race plan rather than resist it in the moment